How accurate is Birdsong's bird identifier?

It runs Google's Perch, a research-grade acoustic model covering nearly 15,000 species. When a call is ambiguous, we say so honestly and let you record a second clip to confirm, rather than guessing.

Is my recording stored?

No. Your audio is used to identify the bird in the moment and isn't saved to our servers. The birds you confirm are kept as cards in your own field journal; the recordings themselves are not.

Is the bird identifier free?

Yes — identify birds every day for free, no account required. Birdsong Pro ($3.99/mo or $39.99/yr) unlocks unlimited IDs, full field guides, your growing collection, and shareable Field Report cards.

Do I need an account or internet to identify a bird?

You'll need a connection to identify, since the AI runs in the cloud. No account is needed to try it — sign in with Google or email to save your field journal and sync it across devices.

Birdsong field guide

Black-backed Woodpecker

Picoides arcticus

A specialized medium-sized woodpecker of the north, characterized by its solid black back and strong ecological association with recently burned coniferous forests.

What it sounds like

A sharp, single, metallic 'pik' and a descending, rattling scream.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 1:14

Rec. Greg Irving · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is one of only two North American woodpecker species that possesses three toes instead of the usual four.
The species is a fire-specialist, often colonizing burned areas within months to exploit wood-boring beetle larvae.
Its solid black plumage provides exceptional camouflage against charred tree trunks in its preferred post-fire habitat.
The three-toed foot structure allows the bird to lean further back and deliver more powerful strikes while foraging.
Males are distinguished by a bright yellow crown patch, which is entirely absent in females.

Habitat

Boreal and montane coniferous forests, particularly early-successional burned stands and areas with high insect mortality.

Range

Across northern North America from Alaska to Newfoundland, extending south into the Sierra Nevada, Cascades, and northern Rockies.

Similar & commonly confused birds

American Three-toed WoodpeckerPicoides dorsalis Eurasian Three-toed WoodpeckerPicoides tridactylus

Heard a Black-backed Woodpecker?

Open Birdsong, tap record, and identify the bird singing near you in seconds — then collect it in your field journal.

Identify a bird by its song